TRIP REPORT - 7 DAYS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CHILE FEBRUARY 09TH TO 15TH, 2019 DAY 1 We set sail early from the Port of Valparaiso, to enjoy the Humboldt Current and all the great amount of wild life that it has. We begin observing some Inca Tern and Red-legged Cormorant at the port exit. While we were taking more distance from the coast, a large group of Sooty Shearwater interspersed with Pink-footed Shearwater. After almost 2 hours of navigation we decided to start throwing the bait and a large number of birds began to approach the boat. Four different species of Albatross that included: Southern and Northern Royal, Black-browed and Salvin's. Also some species of petrels that included: Southern and Northern, White-chinned and Westland petrels. But some surprises were still waiting for us; two unusual species of shearwater were spotted: Buller's and Manx Shearwater, to finish a beautiful day in the Pacific Ocean. After lunch where we enjoyed seafood, we decided to look for some other birds. We drove north to a large colony of South American Sea Lions where it was possible to spot: Red-legged and Guanay Cormorant, Inca Tern, Humboldt Penguin and the endemic Seaside Cinclodes, finishing this way an excellent day. DAY 2 We started early driving straight to Algarrobo looking for the elusive Stripe-backed Bittern. With the first rays of the sun we were able to enjoy 1 individual in this small wetland. In the same place we added to our list: Spot- flanked Gallinule, Chiloe Wigeon and Yellow-billed Teal. Then we decided to explore a small creek in search of some interesting bush birds that´s included: Striped Woodpecker, Des Murs s Wiretail, Thorn-tailed Rayadito and two endemic the little Duky Tapaculo and Dusky- Tailed Canastero. After this we moved to the largest wetland in the Central zone of Chile, the mouth of the Maipo River, that always delivers a large number and diversity of birds. This time it was not different and we added to our list of birds: Black- necked Swan, Lake Duck, Grey Plover, a huge flok of Sanderling and some Semipalmed Sandpiper on the sandy area. In the reed it was possible to see the beautiful Many- colored Rush Tyrant as well as Sedge Wren and the Wren- like Rushbird. After had lunch on a beautiful terrace in front of the Pacific Ocean and enjoy nice seafood, and from where we could observe Peruvian Boobie and Peruvian Pelicans, we headed to El Peral Lagoon. This one is a beautiful lagoon full of birds and an excellent way to finish our day. In it we could observe: Coscoroba Swan, unusual record of Silver Teal, Black-headed duck, Silver Grebe, Giant Hummingbird and Cocoi Heron among other. After these two successful days of birding in the central zone of Chile, it was time to move north. DAY 3 We flew early from Santiago to Arica and started by birding in the most important wetland in the northern zone of Chile, the mouth of the Lluta River. Although the rains of the altiplanic winter had modified the landscape a lot, it was possible to see: White-cheeked Pintail, Grey Gull, Belcher's Gull, Peruvian Meadowlark and Cinereus Conebill among other. Then we had to drive for almost two hours through the desert to Chaca Valley. This is the last place where you can find the threatened Chilean Woodstar. With no more than 300 individuals this is one of the few places where it still reproduces. In the same area we also found the small Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, finishing this way our first day in the north. DAY 4 During this day we had to drive to Putre located at more than 3000 meters above sea level. But before, we decided to do another quickly visit to the Lluta River wetland to be completely sure we do not missed any bird. In this occasion we add: Black Skimer, Andean Gull, Elegant Tern and Sandwinch Tern. Also we decided to stop and search some other birds on the way. We start at the locality of Molino, about 60 kms from Arica. In this fertile valley, we found Andean Swift, Great Horned Owl, Bran-coloured and Vermilion Flycatcher and Blue-black Grassquit. Already in Putre we decided to rest during the afternoon for the next day. DAY 6 We started the day driving from Putre through the old route that leaves the town. We spend there around two hours and we were able to see a large number of birds, among them: Ornate Tinamou, Andean Hillstar, Buff- breasted Earthcreeper, Cream-winged Cinclodes, Ash- breasted and Mourning Sierra-Finch. Before returning to the main road, a small group of Northen deer grazed peacefully among the crops of the local people. We continued driving in to the altiplano, to enter the Lauca National Park. We stopped in a sector known as Las Cuevas. Here, and after a short hike, we got very good sightings of: Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Andean Flicker, White-winged Cinclodes and a small family group of the beautiful Diademed Sandpiper- Plover. Our final destination was the impressive Chungará Lake, but we made some intermediate stops. This time in the Chucullo`s locality where we got excellent birds like: Puna Teal, Andean and Chilean Flamingo, Giant Coot, Andean Avocet, Puna Ibis and Puna Rhea. Finally we arrived at Chungará Lake. With an impressive scenery at 4500 msnm and with the beautiful Parinacota and Pomerape volcanoes, it was the place where we decided to have lunch before looking for the next group of birds. On the shores of the lake we started looking for some birds that included: Andean Duck, Silvery Grebe, Slate- coloured Coot, Puna Plover and White-fronted and Puna Ground-Tyrant. The clouds were threatening a heavy rain, but we decided to make one last stop in the picturesque town of Parinacota. In its surroundings a beautiful wetland was the place to find the last species of the day: Crested Duck, Puna Teal, Andean Flickr, Puna Miner, Hooded and Black Siskin. DAY 6 Our last day in the high plateau of northern Chile we went to explore a beautiful creek located next to our accommodation. We left walking from our cabins and after a short walk we found the first species: Spot-winged Pigeon, Bare-faced and Black-winged Ground-Dove; White-throated Earthcreeper, Creamy-breasted and Cayon Canastero; Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Black-throated Flowerpiercer and Band-tailed Seedeater. Before going back to the city of Arica, we drove by a secondary route that took us through the high altitude forests. In between the queñoas or Polylepis trees we found the last birds of height that included: Andean Condor, Straight-billed Earthcreeper and Thick-billed Siskin. Finally we returned to our hotel in Arica, and while we enjoyed the sunset many birds came to rest in the nearby rocks, among them we managed to add to our list: Blackish and American Oystercatcher; Ruddy Turnstone, Surfbird, Willet, Elegant and a single individual of Common Tern. DAY 7 This was the last morning in the northern Chile, but we decided to make the most of it.We drove through the Azapa Valley towards a small lagoon known as Sobraya. In this small oasis with water in the middle of the desert it was possible to observe some new species such as: Wilson's Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper and Cinnamon Teal. Finally, our last stop was in a small but beautiful garden full of flowers, which is home of two species of hummingbirds: Oasis Hummingbird and Peruvian Sheartail. This way we end the trip whit nearly 200 birds, 44 families and 98 lifers for Mark. BIRD LIST – CHILE RHEAS (RHEIDAE) Puna (Lesser) Rhea Pterocnemia pennata tarapacensis TINAMOUS (TINAMIDAE) Ornate Tinamou Nothoprocta ornata DUCKS (ANATIDAE) Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba Andean Goose Oressochen melanopterus Crested Duck Lophonetta specularioides Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix Yellow-billed Teal (flavirostris) Anas flavirostris flavirostris Yellow-billed Teal (oxyptera) Anas flavirostris oxyptera Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis Puna Teal Anas puna Silver Teal Anas versicolor Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Red Shoveler Anas platalea Black-headed Duck Heteronetta atricapilla Andean (Ruddy) Duck Oxyura jamaicensis ferruginea Lake Duck Oxyura vittata NEW WORLD QUAIL (ODONTOPHORIDAE) California Quail Callipepla californica GREBES (PODICIPEDIDAE) White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Andean (Silvery) Grebe Podiceps occipitalis juninensis Patagonian (Silvery) Grebe Podiceps occipitalis occipitalis FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERIDAE) Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis Andean Flamingo Phoenicoparrus andinus PENGUINS (SPHENISCIDAE) Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti ALBATROSSES (DIOMEDEIDAE) Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora epomophora Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora sanfordi Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Salvin's Albatross Thalassarche salvini SHEARWATERS (PROCELLARIIDAE) Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus Northern Giant-Petrel Macronectes halli White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica Buller's Shearwater Ardenna bulleri Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus DIVING-PETRELS (PROCELLARIIDAE) Peruvian Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii STORM-PETRELS (HYDROBATIDAE) Fuegian (Wilson's) Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus chilensis BOOBIES (SULIDAE) Peruvian Booby Sula variegata CORMORANTS (PHALACROCORACIDAE) Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii PELICANS (PELECANIDAE) Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus